Macalister/1949, 76--77: `A square, originally surrounded by a key pattern on three sides -- that on the sinister side, as well as the sinister half of the bottom, is worn to evanescence. Outside this, on the dexter side, at the top, there is a rectangular panel containing a guilloche; traces show that there was a similar panel in the corresponding place on the sinister side, now broken and worn away. Inside the square there is an equal-armed cross: a singular feature of the design is the suppression of the dexter boundary-line of the vertical limbs. The horizontal limbs bear what seem to me the simple plait shewn in the diagram: though it is easy to imagine serpents' heads and other complications in some of the worn parts. The upper sinister canton contains a figure of a horned bovine animal grazing: the lower sinister canton has a rather grotesque crucifix: with kneeling angels supporting the Head of the Figure on the Cross. The lower dexter canton has a serpent twisted into a knot: the upper dexter panel has a medley of human figures, evidently intended to imitate the knotted human figures on some of the High Crosses, such as that of Monasterboice. On the vertical shaft there is a similar medley, interwoven with serpentine figures: at the bottom there is a `sheelanagig''.

Notes

CISP: The lettering is Insular half-uncial. The A's are in the 'OC' form, the Ds have ascenders which bend to the left over open bows. In the second example the bow is heart shaped. The Rs are half-uncial as are the Gs and T. The Hs are minuscule. The N has a curved top stroke.

Legibility:

someMacalister/1949, 77: `The inscription is in two lines, the second of which has hitherto escaped notice'.